Chili

We served this chili at Ali and David's wedding party dinner. I tried a variation with red, yellow and orange peppers. We liked it, but thought anyone who does not like peppers would not. So, then I tried it with lots of diced zucchini. The zucchini got a bit too mushy. So, my third attempt was this recipe. My family liked it, and I hope everyone else did!


What you need:
 1/2 lb. bacon, cut into small pieces
 2 lbs. ground beef
 1 lb. spicy sausage, chopping into small pieces
 1 large onion, diced
 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
 6-8 large carrots, diced
 1 lb. mushrooms, chopped
 1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
 1 28 oz. can fire roasted crushed tomatoes
 1 7 oz. jar tomato paste
 2 Tb. basil
 2 Tb. chili powder
 1 Tb. thyme
 2 tsp. cumin
 2 tsp. smoked paprika
 1/8 cup raw cacao powder
 1 Tb. salt
 1 cup bone broth
 Crushed red pepper flakes if desired

What you do:
 Heat large, deep pan
 Add bacon and onion
 Cook until onion is soft
 Add ground beef and sausage
 Cook until almost browned
 Add garlic and finish cooking
 Transfer to crock pot
 Add all other ingredients
 Cook on low for 6 hours.
 Serve with grated cheddar cheese, sour cream and avocado chunks.
 Enjoy!

Spicy Ground Beef

This recipe is similar to the spicy chicken, except it is cooked on the stove top and not the slow cooker. We use to put it over rice, but now we just eat it topped with cheese, salsa, sour cream, guacamole. Yum!

What you need:
 2 pounds 100% grass fed beef
 Ghee
 1 large onion, diced
 4 to 6 garlic cloves, minced
 2 Tbs chili powder
 1 Tbs ground cumin
 1 Tbs dried red pepper flakes (I use more)
 1 tsp dried oregano
 1 Tbs sea salt
 1/2 tsp black pepper
 1/2 cup bone broth

What you do:
 Heat ghee in skillet
 Add onions and beef
 Cook, breaking up the beef
 When almost cooked through, add garlic
 Cook until meat is browned
 Add spices and broth
 Cook on low for another few minutes
 Scoop out into bowls, top with shredded cheddar cheese, homemade salsa, guacamole and sour cream
 Enjoy!

Spicy Sausage

I love sausage with scrambled eggs, in soup, or just by itself. When we became more aware of the ingredients in the foods we were eating here in our home, I could not find sausage without sugar and added stuff. So, I experimented and came up with a "real food" version.


What you need:
 2 pounds ground beef
 2 tsp. ground sage
 2 tsp. ground garlic
 1-2 Tbs. crushed red pepper flakes
 2 Tbs. maple syrup (grade B)
 1 1/2 tsp. sea salt
 1/2 tsp. pepper
 Ghee

What you do:
 Mix all ingredients, except ghee, in large bowl
 Form into patties. (I usually get about 16 patties; two ounces per patty.)
 Heat ghee in large skillet and cook patties approximately 3 minutes per side. Do not overcook.
 Freeze left overs in freezer in glass containers.
 Enjoy!

Burgers

Burgers have been a weakness of mine for awhile. Maybe that has something to do with going without red meat for about twenty years of my life, and my body knew I was missing out on something delicious. Anyway, the burgers at restaurants always tasted better than those we grilled at home. That is, until...


Ali's Amazing Burgers

What you need:
 1 lb. 100% grass fed ground beef
 1 chopped onion
 Ghee
 1 egg
 2 tsp. ground garlic
 salt and pepper to taste
 *makes 3 or 4 burgers

 Equipment:
 Grill

What you do:
 Saute the chopped onion in ghee until soft
 Mix onion into ground beef
 Add egg, garlic, salt, pepper and mix well
 Form into three or four patties
 Grill, being careful to not overcook

On dinner plates, we place each burger over a bed of organic mixed greens and arugula and top with cheddar cheese, bacon, sauteed mushrooms and avocados. Add a large dollop of organic, fermented ketchup and enjoy!



Why choose 100% grass fed beef?
Grass-Fed Basics, by Jo Robinson
Health Benefits, from All Things Grass Fed
Pasture-Based Farming Enhances Animal Welfare, from Eat Wild